She was having a very busy day.
She was loading the washer when she heard the dog scratching to get in. She was too busy for that. He could wait. She didn’t want him getting under her feet. The fresh air would do him good. He spends too much time lounging around in doors. She heard the phone go, yet again. They’d leave a message. She looked across at the pile of ironing and sighed. She was losing track of the things she had to do, but she’d get the washing machine going first. She looked down at the shirt she was holding. A button was missing at the collar. She’d have to put it to one side for later. Then came the tapping on the window…
He was standing outside pointing into the garden.
She froze.
He waved and tapped again. He shouted, “Have a look at this.”
She frowned, wagging her head. “What?”
“Take a look.”
“What is it?”
“Just take a look, it won’t take a second.”
She opened the window. “Look, I’m up to my neck with stuff in here. Just tell me what you want.”
The doorbell went. She’d ignore it. She took a deep breath. “Go on,” she said, feeling her nerves giving way.
“It’s this bird,” he said, “the one I told you about. Its back!”
Confused, she shook her head. “I don’t remember you telling me anything about a bird.”
“Well, I did.”
“OK. OK. Is it important?”
“Yes. It’s this tiny bird with the coloured beak.”
“What sort of bird are you talking about?”
“I don’t know what it is, exactly.”
The doorbell went again. She said, “Anyway, what about it?”
“Well, it’s different. It’s back. I thought you’d be interested.”
“You thought I’d be interested in a bird that you don’t recognise that has a coloured beak?”
“Well… yes.”
“My mother was right,” she shouted and slammed the window.
He went back to the bird.
It was gone…
